This year, I have been on an inadvertent Holocaust themed book reading kick. Two of the books that I read, The Reader and The Book Thief* have dealt with one of my favorite topics – why we read and the power of books to affect our lives.
It is an interesting thing to contemplate – and as our children are both our imitators and the opposite of ourselves, I see both trends in my children. The C-Man is like me in that he reads voraciously – he reads the back of the cereal box, the newspaper headlines, and the words that surround him. The X- man defines himself as not being a reader – he once said to me, “I read, and read, and read and get to the bottom of the page and turn it and there are more words.” It is interesting to see this develop as I can’t imagine not reading any more than I can imagine not breathing. What I also find striking about him not being a reader (and this comes up in The Reader as well) is that so much of our culture goes over your head if you don’t get the literary references, he often notes this during our dinner conversation, or when a joke is cracked. I pray that some day, a book captures him and he will find himself a reader as well.
Last night, I finished Escape by Carolyn Jessop, about life in the FLDS
cult** She writes hauntingly not only about abuse and submission that we like to think don’t happen anymore - just like those who were living in Germany and the occupied territories didn’t want to think about the abuse and submission that was occurring around them – but about how one of the symptoms that there was a crackdown coming in her society was when all of her books were taken away. I suspect that the fact that she had to escape became clearer after she no longer had the literary way to escape.
I am off to read in the car while the X-man goes to baseball practice, and to discuss The Book Thief with my mom. Both lovely ideas this Bright Thursday.
*this book hit my mother particularly hard. I can relate Slumdog Millionaire did the same thing to me.
**I will write a longer review for the Page Nibblers blog in a day or two,
posted by Mimi @ 4/23/2009 04:41:00 PM
21 Comments
21 Comments:
You have me very intrigued. I think I will be looking for those books in my library.
Both my kids are readers, though my son more so than my daughter. Just the last month or so, my daughter has gotten back into the mix of it all; to the extent that she calls to talk about what she just read.
I think that "schooling" may have something to do with it. While Bri was in college, she became very turned off towards reading.
I'm not into books that make me think (she says laughing aloud!) unless I have a bunch of people to discuss it with. I think it would be cool to belong to a book club that meets once a month to discuss whatever book they all read.
As this is the National Holocaust Remembrance Week, make sure you add Night to your list! It is a very quick read and is such a powerful book.
I'll see you on Saturday!
Thanks for the link to the page nibblers blog! I'm going to enjoy reading their recommendations...
Ana is a reader, I can't keep the child in books. David, while he is getting to be a better reader and usually reads a little before bed these days, would still rather go outside and play.
I am a reader for sure; I usually eat and read ... not reading is like not breathing...
it is challenging to find things for those who are not readers; have you ever asked a public librarian to help with readers advisory for your son? I know there are lots of great books out there for kids - from books on science, sports, history, other countries... and of course various fiction genres as well....
I am such a librarian! :)
Well, speaking of reading, I better do some more... take care and thanks for the book blog link!
if I had to choose between reading and breathing, I'd probably choose reading.
Mustang Girl, and Mustang Man, read as avidly as I do. For which I am grateful. Our bookshelves runneth over.
I read Escape and it was a difficult topic to read about. You make a good point about the literary force behind her ultimate fleeing from that society.
I really relate to what you wote about your sons apporach to reading being so different. Wondergirl is an avid reader, but Wonderboy thinks reading is a chore!
I have to read something, anything....even when i am in the ladies room!
Wow, sounds like great reads!
A student at a middle school I worked at was reading "The Diary of Anne Frank", and not for school. I was impressed.
She told me she was surprised to learn what a typical teenager Anne was.
Michelle - you'll have to let me know what you think!
Philippa - that's a very good point, I remember when I had breaks during classes, I'd read the most mindnumbing fluff, just because I needed that mental break.
And, I love my Book Club.
Amy - Really? This week? What an interesting coincidence. I have "Night" in my towering TBR pile, I'll see about pulling it out.
Laura - that's a good point, the X-man is by far my more physical child.
Elizabeth - you ARE such a librarian, and I wouldn't have it any other way. That is true, he does read the Matt Christopher books and enjoys them.
Tatiana - me too. I'd read over breathing.
Karen - I never read Anne Frank in class, but definitely had read it by about 10-11. Fantastic book. I should re-read it.
Barb - thanks.
Deb - me too. In fact, I keep magazines in there for just that reason.
I, too, am so fascinated by how my children vary in personality and interests. So often I can almost hear my own voice coming from their mouths and then other times I think, "Where in the world did you come from?!" :)
Troy and I saw Slumdog Millionaire on a date recently. I was pretty blown away by it as well.
A theme that has popped up, interestingly, in several of the books I've read recently, is the eradication of books by various regimes, in medieval Spain and England, Nazi Germany, and Yugoslavia during their recent civil war.
I was surprised at myself, at how hard it was emotionally for me to read about the destruction of all that work and knowledge. There is something so threatening about books when a group is trying to maintain ultimate control, and that fascinates me, because I don't think I'd want to live if I couldn't read--and read whatever I wanted.
I love to read - hence, I was a reading teacher. I see my little Niko and he just sits and looks and pretends to read all these different types of books. I love it!
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is supposed to be a good book. My church is recommending the movie but some say (as usual) that the book is better.
I went through a phase in Year 11 where I read lots about Josef Mengele. I was intrigued with how a person could treat others so badly and feel that it is justified.
There are some really interesting non-fiction and fiction books about the subject.
I have a few reading kids and a few who don't like to read. One of the non-readers heard "Pride and Prejudice" on CD while we were on a trip and I think she may have changed her mind. She loved it. Interesting post. (I LOVE to read. Wish I could do it all day.)
I'm of the "I breathe, therefore I read" ilk....I can no more imagine life without reading than....wow, oxygen or something.
But I don't always read "great" books. I like the occasional "Shopaholic" too!!
Speaking of which, GOOD, entertaining, mind numbing, but decently written and funny chick lit is in fairly short supply out there and best personified IMO by British writers.
Now having rambled about nothing.....
I can't wait to read your escape thoughts. I have had to put the book down because I found it a bit disturbing. However, it's like a train wreck - I can't stop looking back at it. I will forge through.
I love to read and next to most folks I know, I'm "well read", but not as well read as many bloggers such as yourself. I'm picky. Every time I pick up a contemporary book, I wonder if it's going to be another mindless, don't have to think, reads. Usually, that is the case. Sadly! But, if you dont have it and have not read it, I suggest you read PRIESTBLOCK 25487. Excellent true story - and it leaves you feeling like there were some who came out of the Holocaust with hope.
I know you'd probably rather read that watch a movie, but for people like me who have some MBD and now have trouble comprehending, you might be interested in a movie called "Escape from Sobibor." You can watch in online for free at this website:
http://retrovision.tv/freevideo/escape-from-sobibor-1987/ The owner of this website really goes out of his way to make sure that everything posted there is in the public domain, and so does not infringe upon any artistic ownership.
I read Escape too...wow..what can you say?! I am so happy she made it out..thank God!
thanks Mimi! Yes... even if I do go on to do further studies, I will ALWAYS be a librarian!!! :) Books - how can people live without them! :)
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